REVIEW | Boreham Motorworks - Ford Escort Alan Mann 68 Edition

If you thought the first car from the Boreham Motorworks (the DRVN Group’s Ford specialist sub-brand) was going to be an Escort… you’d be right, but not the one you’re thinking of. In a surprise ‘drop,’ the group let us have a go in the Alan Mann 68 Edition - the firm’s first Ultra Series car, and a faithful recreation of one of an iconic Ford racer. 

The Story So Far

First, a bit of history. Alan Mann Racing, known for its iconic red and gold liveries, wasn’t a stranger to the top step. One of its most famous cars was a Mk1 Ford Escort, which fans know by its reg: XOO 349F. It wasn’t, as you can imagine, a gently breathed on standard car. Its front suspension took lessons from the Ford GT40 and endurance racing, thanks to input from legendary engineer Len Bailey, its buzzy 1.8-litre motor kicked out a sprightly 205hp, and its bubble arches weren’t there just to look a bit jazzy either… It was a Group 5 racer designed to win, and it did. Lots. 

As part of its partnership with Ford, the Boreham Motorworks has built a near as dammit-perfect recreation of XOO 349F to the same Group 5 regulations as it was back in the day for the track only. As such, it comes with an FIA passport so it can go racing on the historic scene. There are a few key differences between the new car and the original - a fire extinguisher, a roll cage (because the FIA likes its cars to be safe), FIA-spec buckets with harnesses, and its dampers are now made by KONI because the original supplier is long gone. Oh, and as Boreham Motorworks is building 24 of them, the new owners can choose their own livery if red and gold isn’t quite for them. 

The Alan Mann 68 Edition isn’t only the firm’s first car, but also its first Ultra Series car. The Ultra Series is the top-flight offering - blueprint accurate to the originals, made for road or track, depending on which you’re in, and they even get a Ford-certified chassis number. In the case of this car, there’s a race series and Alan Mann Racing support built into the package, as well as a heap of other Boreham events/services/fun. The price depends on how far you want to go with it. 

It's Not for the Road, Sorry

As it’s not road-legal, a trip to the M-Sport test track in the deepest north of England was in order. The prototype is simply stunning to look at. Its paint is perfect, a gentle fleck in the gold sparkles neatly in the sun, and period correct sponsor logos pimp their wares under the lacquer. Of course, it’s a Mk1 Escort, which means pleasing curves, a happy face, and a warm feeling inside come as standard. Thanks to it being an Alan Mann car, so do a set of honking great bubble arches over the rear wheels. 

For race fans of a certain age, it’ll be a big fat hit of nostalgia that goes straight to the happiness lobe at a glance. But wait ‘til you see under the hood - its 1.8-litre engine, sporting some lovely trumpets, is a sight to behold. Tedious people who enjoy saying ‘they don’t make ‘em like that any more’ are, for a change, absolutely right. 

Inside, there’s nothing but the essentials. You get a deep dish ‘wheel, Smiths dials, pedals laid out for peak heel and toe fun, buckets to pin you into place, and a nice big panel with an inviting ‘START’ button. All the switchgear in the prototype is correct, peeled from Escorts that had met a sticky end. Production cars will have everything remade as was, but brand new.

As it’s a race car, you’d expect it to be intimidating from the off… and you’d be right to an extent. The £LOTS price tag will be enough to make mortals wobble, and the hundreds of hours of craftsmanship using increasingly ‘old school’ (read: hard to do and expensive to commission in 2025) techniques that went into it mean the idea of bending makes you go all funny.

Driving the Alan Mann 68 Edition

On start-up, its motor whirrs and barks into life in a way that even the shiniest of modern supercars can’t muster. Race-spec clutch dipped, its tall gear lever slotted easily into first, and then… an instant stall with a hint of shame. On the second attempt (and a bit more gas) it smoothly buzzed away under its own steam. 

It’s not a car for beginners. Nothing about it is assisted, and if you don’t get your inputs right it’ll let you know. That said, it’s not a difficult car. The steering is heavy at low speeds, and if you get your line wrong, you’ll find yourself wrestling with it, but with a proper corner set up, it’s light as a feather. Its brake pedal is stiff, but given the right amount of pressure it’ll bleed speed with pleasing urgency. The clutch, as mentioned, is a little tricky - more on/off than something to take your time with. Throttle response is instant, wonderfully so. Changing gears needs to be done smoothly, but not too quickly. There’s… quite a bit to concentrate on if driving Group 5 race cars from the 60s isn’t what you do day to day, however it’s a fun car to explore. 

The noise is the sort of thing you want to hear over and over and over. Flying up the revs to the point where your inner monologue is telling you to shift out of mechanical sympathy, you’re urged to push a little longer, before changing up and going again. Your core vibrates with the car, and your eyes try to keep up, eagerly searching for the next apex. 

Lightweight, fast and fun

Heel and toe is perfectly laid out for, and even a block-footed moron can get away with it after lap or two. The whole car, every input, control, noise, and vibration, talks to you, telling you what you’re doing right and what you’re doing wrong. All the while, feeling as planted as they come - it’s set up, so Boreham Motorworks says, not to be a skid monster. Weighing in at 795kgs, you never want for more power or torque, and the way it reacts to the steering will make you lament ‘modern’ cars’ sterility. 

This feels like the sort of car that’ll take no time at all to learn but a lifetime to truly master. It’s just a shame that only 24 people will be able to give mastering it a shot. At least we’ll be able to (hopefully) see them racing on the world’s stage. Just know that every driver will be having the time of their lives in there. 

words by Alex Goy
photography by Jordan Butters